Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a major blow on Wednesday as a key governing partner, the ultra-Orthodox party Shas, announced it was quitting his coalition government over disagreements surrounding a proposed law granting broad military draft exemptions. The decision leaves Netanyahu with a minority in parliament and raises concerns about the stability of his government.
With 50 seats in the 120-seat parliament, once Shas’ resignations come into effect, Netanyahu’s coalition will be severely weakened. However, the party has stated it will not undermine the coalition from outside and can vote with it on some legislation, giving Netanyahu a lifeline.
The decision comes at a critical time for Israel, which is negotiating with Hamas on the terms for a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza. Shas’ exit is not expected to derail these talks, but it does raise concerns about the stability of Netanyahu’s government.
Netanyahu is already facing pressure from his other governing allies, particularly the far-right flank, who oppose ending the 21-month war in Gaza as long as Hamas remains intact. The embattled prime minister is on trial for alleged corruption and critics argue he wants to hold onto power to use his office to rally supporters and lash out at prosecutors.
The ultra-Orthodox issue has long been a contentious one in Israel, with many seeing exemptions from military service as unfair and generous government stipends granted to ultra-Orthodox men who study instead of work throughout adulthood. Netanyahu’s coalition has struggled to find a path forward on a new law, and the party’s exit is a significant blow to his efforts.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/israel-shas-netanyahu-b58b8705277f27fa41f664c341e5a93e